perks and traits - yes
skills (that we can lvl up ) no.
We have so many bad skills that offer nothing that I would merge most of them to make 1 interesting - like:
traping foraging and fishing into -> survival.
sneaking , nimble, lightfooted -> stealth

AFAIK average joe theory dont work with new lvl system. I know that most of us dont know shit about smelting , smithing etc. Most of us cant build a stairs , areosol bombs, metal walls, fix car etc. Going back to medieval after few years after apocalypse is nothing unreal. My RL plan for Zapocalypse would be sword and shield not guns etc. I agree that blacksmithing needs to be hard and uncommon and thats why we have lvl system for all skills - just make it lvl 8-10 and PZ wont turn into Minecraft 2.0

It can be like only first 10 actions in given profession will give you xp. And then you can decide what you want to do: simple things to get xp in easy way or try more complicated stuff at the risk of damaging parts, but the xp reward is higher.

Same problem here, my car hit something and was rooted. When i reload the game a big van spawned at top of my car and i can do anything (well i can leave my car) Also pillar with flashlight dont work (no light).

Also yet another profession. Its probably story for another big topic but we have way to many professions that dont give us much by lvling them up. Mechanic , metalworking, engineer, electrician - ar all meh, merge them to 1-2 professions filled with perks etc.
Like instead of Traping , fishing and foraging merge that to one survival skill that will become interesting pick.

IMO car spawns are to "clean", all of them are nicely parked. I miss some abandoned cars mid road, car barricades across the road. In general its too clean for zombie apocalypse.
PS. Random item spawn at car trunks would be great !

i bet for 2020-2021.
And no, we dont need great NPC, well dont exprect them. Its still one person work.
All I need is RimWorld like NPc`s for base bulding part and Death Road to Canada AI for looting and combat.
If they hit that lvl of AI ill be more than happy